Top 10 favorite Metal Albums (Yearly)

* = top 10 ever

1970-1989

10. Megadeth - Peace Sells but Who's Buying?
9. King Diamond - Fatal Portrait
8. Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
7. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
6. Black Sabbath - Sabotage
5. Ozzy -Diary of a Madman
4. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
3. Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn
2. Mercyful Fate - Melissa
1. King Diamond - Abigail *

1990-1992

10. Nocturnus - The Key
9. Burzum - Burzum
8. Michael Lee Firkins - Michael Lee Firkins
7. Death - Human
6. Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
5. Megadeth - Rust in Peace
4. Paradise Lost - Gothic
3. Dream Theater - Images and Words
2. King Diamond - The Eye
1. Darkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky

1993 - Its startin to heat up...

10. My Dying Bride - Turn Loose the Swans
9. Mystifier - Goetia
8. Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses
7. Burzum - Det Som En Gang Var
6. Darkthrone - Under a Funeral Moon
5. Dissection - The Somberlain
4. Satyricon - Dark Medieval Times
3. Immortal - Pure Holocaust
2. Mercyful Fate - In the Shadows
1. Katatonia - Dance of December Souls

1994 - Yikes this was hard!!!

10. Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
9. Gorogorth - Pentagram
8. Amorphis - Tales from the Thousand Lakes
7. Bethlehem- Dark Metal
6. Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse
5. Enslaved - Vikinglgr Veldi
4. Satyricon - The Shadowthrone
3. Ulver - Bergtatt
2. Darkthrone - Transilvanian Hunger *
1. Burzum - Hvis Lyset Tar Oss *

1995

10. Ulver - Kveldssanger
9. Beherit - Electric Doom Synthesis
8. Vlad Tepes - March to the Black Holocaust
7. Wongraven - Fjelltronen
6. Abigor - Nachthymnen
5. Opeth - Orchid
4. Moonspell - Wolfheart
3. Blut Aus Nord - Ultima Thulee
2. King Diamond - The Spider's Lullaby
1. Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane *

1996 - easily the hardest year

10. King Diamond - The Graveyard
9. Sacramentum - Far Away from the Sun
8. Limbonic Art- Moon in the Scorpio
7. Dimmu Borgir - Stormblast
6. Branikald - Rdjandalir
5. Burzum - Filosofem
4. Opeth - Morningrise
3. Cradle of Filth - Dusk and Her Embrace
2. Nokturnal Mortum - Lunar Poetry *
1. Katatonia - Brave Murder Day *

1997

10. Limbonic Art - In Abhorrence Dementia
9 Summoning - Nightshade Forests
8. Windir - Soknaldalr
7. Arcturus - La Masquerade Infernale
6. Old Man's Child - The Pagan Prosperity
5. Profanum - Profanum Aeternum
4. October Tide - Rain Without End
3. Obtained Enslavement - Witchcraft
2. Nokturnal Mortum - Goat Horns
1. Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy

1998

10. Paysage d'Hiver - Die Festung
9. Rhapsody - Symphony of the Enchanted Lands
8. Symphony X - Twilight in Olympus
7. King Diamond - Voodoo
6. Katatonia- Discouraged Ones
5. Paysage d'Hiver - Schattengang
4. Obtained Enslavement - Soulblight
3. Paysage d'Hiver - Steineche
2. Opeth - My Arms Your Hearse
1. Bethlehem - S.U.I.Z.I.D. *

1999

10. Paysage d'Hiver - Kerker
9. Nokturnal Mortum - Nechrist
8. Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica
7. Opeth - Still Life
6. Agalloch - Pale Folklore
5. Immortal - At the Heart of Winter
4. Rapture - Futile
3. Summoning - Stronghold
2. Windir - Arntor
1. Paysage d'Hiver - Paysage d'Hiver *

2000-2001 - Time to start reaching again...

10. King Diamond - House of God
9. Cradle Of Filth - Midian
8. Symphony X - V
7. Weakling - Dead as Dreams
6. Windir - 1184
5. Abyssic Hate - Suicidal Emotions
4. Shape of Despair - Angels of Distress
3. Iron Maiden - Brave New World
2. Opeth - Blackwater Park
1. Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscapes *

2002

10. Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness
9. Taake - Over Bjoergvin Grater Himmerik
8. Forgotten Tomb - Songs to Leave
7. Forest Silence - The Eternal Winter
6. Opeth - Deliverance
5. Agalloch - The Mantle
4. Symphony X - The Odyssey
3. Xasthur - Nocturnal Poisoning
2. Negura Bunger - N' Crugu'Bradului
1. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia

2003 - terrible year for metal

10. Leviathan - The Tenth Sub Level of Suicide
9. Darkthrone - Hate Them
8. Epheles - Le Dernier Pardon
7. Darkspace - I
6. King Diamond - The Puppet Master
5. Enslaved - Below the Lights
4. Sonata Arctica - Winterheart's Guild
3. Crimson Moonlight - Covenant Progress
2. Opeth - Damnation
1. Drudkh - Forgotten Legends *

2004

10. Wintersun - Wintersun
9. Spastic Ink - Ink Compatible
8. Enslaved - Isa
7. Haggard - Eppur Si Muove
6. Nyktalgia - Nyktalgia
5. Crotchduster - Big Fat Box of Shit
4. Xasthur - To Violate the Oblivious
3. Velvet Cacoon - Genevieve
2. Drudkh - Autumn Aurora
1. Ruins of Beverast - Unlock the Shrine

2005-2006 - the goodies start to dwindle

10. Enslaved - Ruun
9. Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain
8. Forest Silence - Philosophy of Winter
7. Dark Funeral - Attera Totus Sanctus
6. Negura Bunget - Om
5. Peste Noire - La Sanie...
4. Make a Change Kill Yourself - Make a Change Kill Yourself
3. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
2. Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
1. Nokturnal Mortum - Weltanschauung

2007-2010

10. Velvet Cacoon - Atropine
9. Opeth - Watershed
8. Coldworld - Melancholie2
7. Nokturnal Mortum - The Voice of Steel
6. Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
5. Burzum - Belus
4. Austere - Withering Illusions and Desolation
3. Nae'blis - Sketches of Reality
2. Striborg - Nefaria
1. Walknut - Graveforests and their Shadows


So I guess I'm a 90's guy. These are sure to change the more I discover! Wonder how many I accidentally missed....

Crazy Spring

So life has been full of uncertainties as of late, but it seems as if it has finally calmed down. I left my last job as a map tech because the job I had been waiting for since August finally came through, and it is much closer to home. However, I interviewed for a full-time map tech on my last day of work (how ironic) and to make a long story short didn't get it, so now I don't have any diabolical decisions to make, for better or for worse.

I enjoy my new job even if it just another sweatshop. The work is interesting and the people are fun, the training was great, and my schedule is going to be wild (4 pm - 1230 am). No more waking up to an alarm! Other than that I can't really say much about it as it is secret hehe.

My march madness picks were decent but Kansas fell out too early for me to contend with anyone. Even so, I happy about getting 2 of the final four right. I'm pumped about the NBA playoffs and I always fill out my own bracket for that. My Suns need to be in 2nd or 3rd to avoid the Lakers till the conference finals, but unfortunately with that loss to OKC a few days ago, I think they will end up in 5th or maybe 4th... Hopefully if thats the case they will play Denver and not Utah, as they have NOOO chance against Utah. Predictions now: Phoenix 4 Denver 2; or Utah 4 Phoenix 2. Utah is criminally underrated and the Nuggets haven't had the consistency as of late unlike the Suns who have seemed to gel at the perfect time.

I will post my bracket to this blog when the seedings are set in stone and I encourage you to post yours in the comments!

On another note, apparently speaking my mind bluntly doesn't go over well with everyone, lol what a surprise, and perhaps I should do it more tastefully in the future. I just get very fed up with emotionally charged statuses with or without silly questions on facebook from people (friends? acquaintances? strangers?) that are obviously emotionally deranged and bewildered. Most people just tell white lies but I tell it how it is. I guess you can lose "facebook friends" that way. Boo Hoo.

I went to NYC to see Opeth on wedensday with Christine and my brother. Great stuff indeed! It was Christine's first time in NYC and she was less than pleased with the amount of people everywhere. Funny tale, we were standing in line at Subway to get our dinner before the show, and in comes an old lady in a powered wheelchair. Sounds good right? Well my brother was first in line and ordered, hooray, good for him. I should state now the line was about 15 people long. Anyway its my turn to order and the lady has crept all the way next to me and is driving into my leg repeatedly in an obvious attempt to get in front of me! It is now that I notice she has an "I Love Jesus" shirt on, in a deceitful ploy to get what she wants. Now, this is where I wonder if I am a good or bad citizen. I proceeded to order, ignoring the fool and subsequently did Christine, and then whoever was behind her let this line cutter go next. I'm sorry, but this lady needed to understand that she cannot do this on a regular basis! Wait in line like everybody else! You don't see people with mental disorders cutting the line! And if you are going to cut the line, do it in a more polite manner please. I'm sure the majority would have let her go but the situation infuriated me, and she reminded me of the gypsys we frequently met in italy on the streets. She was taking advantage of her state of being and it did not go over well with me. Perhaps I did not act politely and do the right thing, but I have made it more than obvious as to why I didn't. What would you do?

The Opeth show itself was wonderful. They played two sets, the first being the Blackwater Park album in its entirety and the second one song from each album chronologically. They performed a few songs they never have before, and of course some staples. Advent was a great surprise!

Setlist

Blackwater Park album

Forest of October
Advent
April Ethereal
The Moor
Wreath
Hope Leaves
Harlequin Forest
The Lotus Eater

First show I had been to in a long time!

Bone Fragments is still at work, trying to write for the next one. Many (excuse the pun) fragments have been written, but a bit of writers block has been a problem, and even though the album is about half done I may scrap it all as I want it to be even better than the next. We shall see.

I guess that's all. Pretty soon I can start going to the beach on the weekend as the weather is surprisingly warm :O)

Winter Life

I have been pretty busy the past few months. Still working at the same place in Maine and I am on a waiting list for the one in NH, but there is no indication of when I will start. The new album was released and the response has been pretty good overall... still have a lot of copies left though. One forum has a few people that hate us and our music, and make constant jokes like comparing us to ICP, but I understand the concept definitely won't appeal to everyone, and some people can't get by that to give the music the proper chance. I was just surprised at how vicious they were. And how about some actual constructive criticism...? Others like or love it, and I am personally happy at how the album came out considering the circumstances. I'd say I am 90% satisfied with it. Sometimes I feel like its all a waste of time but then I need to figure out why I'm doing it in the first place. Its pretty weird because I feel like an outcast within the outcasts. What I am doing within the subgenre is not normal so its been very difficult finding an audience... its just a few people here and there that are into it. I would say its pretty lonely though. Music is my main hobby but it in a sense hides in the dark because I don't play live and the music is not accessible to the average listener. I just have to remember I made it first and foremost for myself. I just enjoy it a lot and I want to derive satisfaction out of knowing others do as well... maybe that's selfish? I have a great desire to share what I have created with others and feel stinted because I feel like its so difficult getting people to listen to it in the first place because it isn't normal. As a musician I wouldn't have this problem if I were a singer-songwriter so even within musicians I guess not all would really understand what I am getting at. I am so thankful for those that do give it a chance and I can only hope they are enjoying it. I probably am just investing too much of my emotional energy in the wrong places.

There have been a lot of events lately, lots of parties and get-togethers which have been fun, but I am really worn out today. I got sick last night so I guess today is recovery day. I was sick for a while a few weeks ago and missed 3 days of work because of some stomach infection which was terrible financially but at least it didn't last longer. There hasn't been much snow this winter which I guess is fine because my car isn't so good in it.

I have been watching a lot of basketball and of course the nfl playoffs. My suns aren't doing so well, but I'm not that surprised. My fantasy team is pretty average in our league, but Gerald Wallace has been playing ridiculously well lately which has helped. Not so sure about Chris Paul as my first pick, and honestly Rondo who I also have has probably had a better season.

I saw a black metal documentary in Portland on thursday night which was pretty interesting, at least especially the sections with Varg and Fenriz. I feel like it could have been better but I am glad I saw it, especially since its not on dvd. I saw it at SPACE, some art place in downtown Portland. Parking was awful there and I didn't know my way around at all with all the one way streets, not to mention I've never been to Portland in my life, but it all worked out. I left Portland at 930 and had to commute all the way back to NH, go to bed, wake up and drive all the back north of Portland to work on friday... yikes.... certainly won't be doing that very often.

I am glad today is the last day of January. Its one of my least favorite months for a lot of reasons... ick I'm watching tv and the freecreditreport.com commercial with the guy playing the guitar singing is sooo obnoxious. The stereotypical guy like him upsets me because of how loved he is. Perhaps I overestimate the appeal... blergh.

Well once again I guess this has been kind of a melodramatic blog post so I'll end it with something that can only be taken objectively, some random useless lists.

NBA teams I love:

Phoenix

NBA teams I like:

Milwaukee, Atlanta, Houston, Denver

NBA teams I don't particularly like:

Boston, Dallas

NBA teams I hate:

San Antonio, LA Lakers